Yorkshire in the 1300s was a strange and frightening place. The living dead crawled from their graves, wandered round the lanes and accosted the villagers, at least according to accounts written by an anonymous monk. But these zombies were very different from the gut munchers of modern popular culture, and it wasn’t your brain theyContinue reading “Yorkshire Zombies: The Medieval Dead”
Author Archives: Paul Weatherhead
Sects, Cults and Rock ‘n’ Roll
Weird Musical History # 13: Krishna Rock The Hare Krishnas were a common sight in cities around the world. You might have seen them in your high street with their hair shaven but for a pigtail and their flowing robes, clinking finger cymbals and chanting their mantras. In the 70s and 80s, they might evenContinue reading “Sects, Cults and Rock ‘n’ Roll”
The UFO Cult That Saved the World
In December 1954, a close-knit group of believers were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the flying saucer that was to save them from an apocalyptic flood they believed would destroy the USA. The Chicago UFO cult predicted that the whole continent would be submerged on 21 December, though the true believers would be whisked awayContinue reading “The UFO Cult That Saved the World”
Vape Spiking – Smoke Without Fire?
A new danger for festival and party-goers emerged this summer – vape spiking. A stranger approaches a young woman and asks if she wants have a go on his vape, something that young people often do to try new flavours. Soon after the victim becomes dizzy, nauseous and loses control of her body before passingContinue reading “Vape Spiking – Smoke Without Fire?”
UFOs ~ the Empire Strikes Back?
UFOs are back with a vengeance. They’ve been all over mainstream news in the last few years, and most recently after former intelligence officer and so-called UFO whistleblower David Grusch testified under oath before the US senate on Wednesday 26 July. Grusch worked for the US Defence Department until 2023. His job was to analyseContinue reading “UFOs ~ the Empire Strikes Back?”
The Grumbleweeds Take A Trip
Weird Musical History #12 I loved this Leeds comedy cabaret band as a kid, so when I heard they’d recorded a ‘psychedelic’ album in the early 1970s I had to track it down. And it’s really rather good. If you’re of a certain vintage, you’ll most likely remember the Grumbleweeds from their TV appearances andContinue reading “The Grumbleweeds Take A Trip”
The Demon-Haunted Castaway
In January 1726 the British ships the Compton and the James and Mary anchored off a desolate uninhabited island in the South Atlantic for repairs. Men were sent ashore to find provisions, but instead came across a tent with a man’s skeleton lying near it. Next to the skeleton was a manuscript – a diaryContinue reading “The Demon-Haunted Castaway”
The Gorefield Ghost
In early 1923 a Fenland farm was visited by strange destructive phenomena – household objects mysteriously flying across the room and smashing. Some said the house was haunted by a poltergeist, others blamed witchcraft or even demons. The haunted house became a national sensation, leading to psychic investigators, spiritualists, an exorcist, a witch and ArthurContinue reading “The Gorefield Ghost”
Doris Stokes – Welcome to my World
Weird Musical History #11 Doris Stokes was Britain’s foremost medium in the eighties. She was a regular on television, had a series of autobiographical books and toured the world selling out theatres with her displays of mediumship. She was spiritual advisor to the stars – John Inman, Freddie Starr and members of the cast ofContinue reading “Doris Stokes – Welcome to my World”
Vampires That Time Forgot #3
Here are a couple of forgotten ‘true’ news reports about historical bloodsuckers… A Family of Vampires Baron de Gostovsky was a haunted man. The landowner from Sabousz near modern day Gdansk believed his family were vampires, so on his death bed in 1887, he requested that before burial, his head should be cut off. ThisContinue reading “Vampires That Time Forgot #3”
Paul Weatherhead 